Hastati (TWR2 Unit)

Hastati (TWR2 Unit)
Class	Melee Infantry
Unit Size	160
Weaponry	Gladius
Morale	45
Melee Attack	38
Ranged Attack	N/A
Defence	50
Charge Bonus	12
Accuracy	N/A
Range	N/A
Ammunition	N/A
Region	Global
Recruitment Cost	350
Upkeep Cost	90
Turns to Build	1
Unit Limit	Unlimited
Building Requirements	Field of Mars
Technology Requirements	N/A
Attributes	• Attacking Testudo • Use the Whip • Formation Attack • Disciplined • Hide (forest)

Hastati fight as the leading edge of a Legion, wearing the enemy down for the next wave of attackers.

Overview

During the 4th Century BC the Romans abandoned the phalanx in favour of an army of hastati, principes and triarii. These were deployed in maniples: compact blocks of men, laid out in a checkerboard formation. This allowed flexibility moving across a battlefield, particularly when compared to a solid phalanx.

Like most sophisticated city-states in the ancient world, Rome expected its men to fight, and supply their own war gear when they did so. A cynical observer might be tempted to note that the manipular legion also made sure that the hierarchy of Rome was preserved. The youngest and least wealthy became hastati, the first line of battle in a Roman legion. Behind them came the second line of principes, older and richer men, and finally the triarii, the third line of the most experienced warriors. “Going to the triarii” was a Roman saying in all kind of situations, implying that everything else had been tried and found wanting.

Details

Hastati are capable troops. Although they do not have particularly excellent stats, their versatility on the battlefield (as with all Roman infantry) and relatively easy accessibility in particular is what makes them a unit not to be underestimated on the battlefield or the campaign map. They have multiple abilities in combat and tactics that make them effective; they have enough discipline to hold against Gaulish warbands yet the flexibility to defeat lesser phalanxes. They can hold their formation, break apart and fight as individuals, throw pila at will, or cancel throwing pila before a charge.

As an example of the Hastati's flexibility, throwing a pila before a head-on charge against oncoming phalanxes can be actually quite effective; the pila kill enough hoplites to create a morale loss and holes in the phalanx formation, and the Hastati charge fast enough for the phalanx to still be disrupted and have lost their unity. The Hastati’s only real weakness on the battlefield is heavy cavalry. Against a heavy cavalry charge they do not hold for long and can rout easily. Other heavy infantry can also defeat hastati without significant casualties on the opposing side. Economically, with only a militia barracks required to recruit the Hastati, most cities are able to train them, making Hastati a staple pre-Marian Roman troop.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Average attack

• Weak defence

• Average damage but low armour penetration

• Poor morale

Factions

• Rome